Fastening means for vignole rails



E. F. LEVAIRE.

FASTENING MEANS FOR VIGNOLE RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, I919.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921,

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

VIII,

fiwbanijflorz manoz Z8 l/nzz rz Amm E. F. LEVAIRE. FASTENING MEANS FORVIGNOLE RAILS. APPLICATION FILED nsc.9,191s.

1,396,271 Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Invenidr: fimon florjmonl levaire,

E. F. LEVAIRE.

FASTENING MEANS FOR VIGNOLE RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-9,1919.

Patented v. 8, 1921.

4' SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. F. LEVAIR FASTENING MEANS F LE RAILS. APPLICATION FIL 919.

Pate Nov. 8 1921.

v SHEET 4.

EETS- PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND FLORIMOND LEVAIBE,.OF PARIS, FRANCE.

FASTENING MEAN S FOR VIGNOLE RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed December 9, 1919. Serial No. 343,647.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. In,1313.)

for Vignole Rails, (for which I have filed applications in France. Mar.21. 1918, Patent No. 489,477, and Apr. 20, 1918, Patent No. 20,789,add.) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for fastening Vignole or flange rails,comprising essentially the combination of a metal sole-plate having twohooks or claws and secured to the sleeper or formed integrallytherewith, with two keys adapted to be forcibly driven between each clawand the rail flange, said keys being driven both in the same directionparallel to the rail, and having no contact with the web of the latter,even occasionally.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section showing by way of example one embodimentof the securing device for Vignole rails in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a metal sole-plate provided with twohooks or claws.

Fig. 4 is a section of the central part of the sole-plate or of thesleeper when the latter is itself provided with claws, said central partbeing shown with the shape it assumes, when said element is delivered bythe finishing rolling mill.

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the keys in active position.

Fig. 6 is a corresponding cross section of the same key about midway of.the length thereof.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are an inverted plan view. a plan view and a side view,respectively, of a key.

Fig. 10 is a cross section showing a modification of the key, saidsection being made about midway of its length.

Fig. 11 is a cross section of another modification, said section beingtaken about mid way of its length.

As shown in the drawings, the flange rail 2) is secured to the sleepersby means of a device comprising a metal sole-plate 0 provided with twoclaws 0 0 and two keys at and a which are forcibly driven into the spacebetween each claw and the corresponding flange, of the rail,respectively. The claws may be formed integral with the sleeper,-thesole-plate being omitted. The two keys are inserted in the samedirection parallel-to the rail, the web of the rail being never used asa supporting member for thekeys, even occasionally.

The general shape of the key is that ofa tapered prism whose edges arepreferably replaced by fillets. Said prism contacts with the rail by twofaces along the lateral edge of the rail flange. IVhile the contact of acoach-screw with a rail takes place along one line underneath its headand along another line, along its shank, the contact of the key with therail takes place by two rectangular faces having approximately these twolines for their height, respectively. In no other place is the rail usedas a supporting member for the key. The key is inserted between the railflange and the claw, its shape conforming with that of the inner wallsof said claw, which tapers longitudinally.

Figs. 10 and 11 show that the contact between the key and the claw maybe dis pensed with in the fillet part 67 of the claw. At this place, thefillet on the key may be flattened or it may have a radius somewhatgreater than that of the corresponding filletprovided on the claw, asshown in Fig. 10, or it may be concave instead of being convex, as shownin Fig. 11, so that there is no clamping pressure be tween fillets orcurved parts, the pressure received by the claw from the key beingexerted on the inner faces of the claw i. e. the upper inner face andthe side inner face of. the same.

The inner side faces of the two opposite claws are spaced apart by asuflicient distance so that different track gages may be obtained byusing keys having a suitable thickness. The distance between. the clawsat the top is equal to the width of the rail. flange plus a suflicientclearance to allow an easy insertion of the rail flange between theclaws in a vertical direction.

The space between the two claws on the sole-plate forms a chamber forthe rail and the two keys. Its general shape is that of -a'tapered prismas shown at 0m,mr-

qpv.aig/stu in Fig. 3, the same being formed by a rectangular prismhaving for its base an isoscele trapezium mn0 p ga and being beveledalong the three inclined by the same angle to the three,

uts-y"w-m is the smaller opening of the same, the flange of the railresting upon the face mrys.

The edges-m-s. ry, nf-2f and gx are beleved or 'filleted and form aportion of a cylindrical or other surface 2'. e. the sharp edges at m,a, by fillets. l V

The sloping planes a-0ut, ;0g-a:-o are for the purpose of fastening therail in a vertical direction by means of the clamping pressure exertedupon said rail in a vertical direction when the keys are driven insidethe claws. The sloping planes m-nts, rqmy are for the purpose offastening the rail laterally owing to the clamping pressure developed ina lateral direction upon the rail when the keys are inserted.

It will be seen in Figs. 10 and 11 that any contact between thesole-plate and the key may be done away with in the filleted part 67.This may be effected also in any other curved portion.

When each key has been forcibly driven to its working position, it islocked in the longitudinal direction so as to prevent any possibleloosening. This is effected by means of a wire 7 or 7 having a squarecross section which is inserted into a longitudinal groove 9 in the keyand is held at one end by having its bent extremity engaging into a holeIt provided in the key at the side of the larger base thereof, a portionof said wire being folded at its other end against the lateral face ofthe claw.

The construction above described insures a rigid assembling of the partsand a strong clamping action which opposes any displace ment of the raileither in the longitudinal direction, transverse direction or verticallyfrom below upward.

As will be readily understood, the metal sole-plate 0' may be separatefrom the sleeper or formed integrally with the latter. Also, the hooksor claws c and 0 may be provided on a portion only of the width of thesoleplate as shown in Fig. 2 or they may extend along the entire widththereof.

The device above described for locking the keys in the longitudinaldirection may be replaced by any other suitable means or even entirelydispensed with. The wire may of course be replaced by a flat metal bandor by a band having any other suitable profile.

Figs. 5 to .9 show in detail the shape of s, t, r, g, y, and m arereplaced a key, which is on the whole that of a tapered prism. Frompoint 1 to point 2 (Fig. 6) the inner face of the key has a shapecorresponding to the upper face of the rail flange. Then, it conformswith the most part 3 4 of the vertical lateral face of the flange. Theunder face of the key is formed by a plane inclined surface 4-5, thepoint 5 being at the lower inner angle of the claw. The sharp edge 5 maybe replaced by a fillet 5.

It will be noted that there is no play between the part of the side faceof the rail flange which is at right angles to the bottom of the railchamber and the portion 3-4 of the inner surface of the key.

The lateral and upper portions 5-6 and 6-7 -8-9 respectively of thesurface of the key conform to the shape of the inner surface of theclaw. Contact may however be omitted in the curved portion 67. On theinner side opposite the rail, the surface of the key comprises a roundedpart 9--10 merging tangentially into a flat portion 10l.

The longitudinal surface 9101 may be parallel to the rail or inclinedthereto in the same direction as the longitudinal face in contact withthe inner face of the claw or in the reverse direction. The contour line110-9 of the cross section of the key may form a right angle having itsapex near point 10, or an acute angle or still an obtuse angle, the apexof this angle being rounded or iilleted. The part of the key outside theclaw, adjacent point 9, may also extend to a higher level than the line98-7.

The upper straight portion 7-89 of the cross-sectional area of the keymay be parallel to the bottom of the rail chamber or slope slightlytoward the center of the under face of the rail flange. The-line 9876may also be replaced by a straight line starting from 9 or thereaboutand directed toward point 6 or toward a point underneath 6 withan'inclination of about 21 degrees to the'bottom of the rail chamber,said straight portion being connected to the portions 5-6 and 9-10 byfillets.

These modifications may be adopted for the purpose of meeting 567-89, ofabout 25 millimeters tothe meter. Said inclination which is also that ofthe walls of the claw 0- may be increased or diminished as desired.

Each end face of the key is plane and beveled or filleted along itsedge. It may also be convex.

As a result of the combination of the portion 7-8-9 which is eitherparallel to the bottom or hearing face of the rail chamber, slightlyinclined toward the center of the rail flange or inclined in theopposite direction by about 21 degrees with respect to the said bearingface of the vrail chamber, with the inclined bottom face 1-2, the keycan never slip out of the rail chamber in a transverse direction throughthe space 2-9. As a matter of fact, the inner shape of the claws mustconform along the line 56--7-89 to that of the key as above described,except possibly from 6 to 7.

Fig. 10 shows a modification in which the lower outer edge 5 is filletedat 5.

Fig. 11 shows a modification in which contact between the key and theclaw is avoided in the part 6-7 by providing the key with a concavelongitudinal recess or rabbet.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: V

l. A fastening device for Vignole rails comprising the combination of ametal supporting member, two lateral opposite claws integral with thesaid supporting member having a substantially horizontal projecting orbeak portion, the inner under side of each beak portion being situatedin a plane at right angle with the web part of the rail, but slightlyinclined longitudinally toward the rail flange and a body portion andtwo tapering keys adapted to be forcibly driven between one claw on thesaid supporting member and one edge of the rail flange, respectively,both keys having their upper faces in slightly inclined planes, at rightangle with the web part of the rail, the under faces being inclined tothe bottom of the rail chamber being preferably driven in the samedirection and having no contact with the web part of the rail.

A fastening device for Vignole rails comprising the combination of ametalsupporting member, two lateral opposite claws integral with thesaid supporting member and having a substantially horizontal projectingor beak portion, the inner under side of each beak portion beingsituated in a plane at right angle with the web part of the rail, butslightly inclined longitudinally toward the rail flange and a bodyportion and two tapering keys adapted to be forcibly driven between oneclaw on the said supporting member and one edge of the rail flange,respectively, both keys having their upper faces in slightly inclinedplanes, at right angle with the web part of the rail, the under facesbeing inclined to the bottom of the rail chamber being driven in thesame direction and having no contact with the web part of the rail, eachkey being wedged between the upper face and the side face of the railflange on the one hand and the inner side wall of the body portion ofthe claw and the bottomrface of the beak portion of the claw, on theother hand.

3. A fastening device for, Vignole rails comprising the combination of ametal supporting member, two lateral opposite claws integral with thesaid supporting member and having a substantially horizontal projectingor beak portion, the inner under side of each beak portion beingsituated in a plane at right angle with the web part of the rail, butslightly inclined longitudinally toward the rail flange and a bodyportion, and two tapering keys adapted to be forcibly driven between'oneclaw on the said supporting member and one edge of the rail flange,respectively, both keys having their upper faces in slightly inclinedplanes, at right angle with the web part of the rail, the under facesbeing inclined to the bottom of the rail chamber being driven in thesame direction and having no contact with the web part of the rail, eachkey being wedged between the upper face and the side face of the railflange on the one hand and the inner side wall of the body portion ofthe claw and the bottom face of the beak portion of the claw on theother hand, the said supporting member forming with the claws a chamberadapted to receive the rail flange together with both keys, said chamberhaving the shape of a prism with a base in the form of an isoscelestrapezium, said prism being beveled by three planes containingrespectively the three sides of the trapezium other than its longerbase, said planes being inclined by the same. angle with respect to thecorresponding faces of the prism originally considered, and each keyhaving working faces correspondingly inclined.

4. A fastening device for Vignole rails comprising the combination of ametal sup porting member, two lateral opposite claws integral with thesaid supporting member, and having a substantially horizontal projectingor beak portion, the inner under side of each beak portion beingsituated in a plane at right angle with the web part of the rail, butslightly inclined longitudinally toward the rail flange and a bodyportion and two tapering keys adapted to be forcibly driven between oneclaw on the said supporting member and one edge of the rail flange,respectively, both keys having their upper faces in slightly inclinedplanes, at right angle with the web part of the rail, the under facesbeing inclined to the bottom of the rail chamber being driven in thesame direction and having no contact with the web part of the rail, eachkey being wedged between the upper face and the side face of the railflange on the one hand and the inner side wall of the body portion ofthe claw and the bottom face of the beak portion of the claw on theother hand, the

. supporting member having fillets at its inner com risin thecombination of a metal su 23 l porting member, two lateral oppositeclaws integral with the said supporting members and having asubstantially horizontal projecting or beak portion, the inner underside of each beak portion being situated in a plane at right an le withthe web part of the rail, but slightly inclined longitudinally towardthe rail flange and a body portion and two tapering keys adapted to beforcibly driven between one claw on the said supporting member and oneedge of the rail flange, respectively, both keys having their upperfaces in slightly inclined planes, at right angle with the web part ofthe rail, the under faces being inclined to the bottom of the railchamber being driven in the. same direction and having no contact withthe web part of the rail, the distance between the body portion of thecooperating claws and the cross sectional dimensions of the keys beingsuch that the rail may be integral with the said supporting memberandihaving a substantially horizontal projecting or beak portion theinner under side of each beak portion being situated in a plane at rightangle with the web part of V the rail, but slightlv inclinedlongitudinally toward the rail flange and a body portion and twotapering keys adapted to be forcibly driven between one claw on the saidsupporting member and one edge of the rail flange, respectively, bothkeys having their upper faces in slightly. inclined planes, at rightangle with the web part of the rail, the under faces being inclined tothe bottom of the rail chamber being driven in the same direction andhaving no contact with the web part of the rail, the distance betweenthe beak portions of the cooperating claws being greater than the widthof the rail flange, whereby the rail may be inserted 7 into thesupporting member or taken off by a vertical movement. 7 V

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDMOND FLORIMOND LEVAIRE.

